Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-07

timed remarks to the effect that we
should not look back to the past, but
fix our eyes on the future with de-
termination to succeed.
MRS. wELLER's ADDRESS.
Following is the address given by
Mrs. Weller at the campfire service
of the Chautauqua Literary Sclentihc
Circle, Friday, August 9TH, 1887:
There is one great misfortune In be-
ing Chautauquan. You are expect
ed to address literary and scientific
audience on the shortest possible no
tice. You are Chautauquan and to
a Chautauquan all things are possible.
Be that as it may, we have heard it
said, "Youth looks forward, age back
ward" Hence age and the past, be-
ing inseparable, are mine-at least for
tonight, and there is infinite pleasure
in this backward look, as there will be
to those of you who are pressing for,
ward, when the obstacles lie behind
you. However, if we treat these same
obstacles as when bathing we treat
the ocean waves, they will not only
lift us but add much to our enjoyment.
There is such thrill of honest salts
faction in overcoming the difficulties
that lie all along the path of the Chau-
tauquan. My peculiar sympathies are
with the mothers-I am one. l have
studied with baby fingers pulling at
ribbons and hair; and later with
young hopeful making "horsie''' OF
my shoulder or chair l have had
Chautauquan theories exploded by
volley of questions: "What is an idea,
mamma ?" 'Is one ?" "Why makes
YOU 'tudy ?" etc.. and under the pres
sure many new theories not Chautau-
quan have been started.
But by the strong hand and cheering
voice of him who climbed beside me
| managed not only to finish the course
but to become SO imbued with the
Chautauqua idea, so permeated by IT
that my mind so influenced that OF
my child that he slept each day Just
forty minutes, the stipulated time Tor
daily Chautauqua reading. To moth
ers It is like climbing a ladder with
every alternate rung either broken or
missing. The steps are long but the
effort is mighty, and it needs the dog
ged perseverance that characterized
the woman who, when drowning In
defense of her argument that it was a
scissors, reached her stiffening fingers
above the water and crossed them.
What evidence of that perseverance
we have. How the social and literary
platform of this whole universe Is
crowded with sweet girl graduates.
What though the rose crowns of youth
have long SINCE given place to the
SHOWS of age, and how many
there are among us on whose venerable
heads the frosty fingers of time have
left their mark, This is one of the
grandest things about the Chautau-
qua idea. 1t touches old and young.
creates new bond. 1t teaches the
young how to live, the old
how to die. Its influences
are all ennobling. 1t makes us better
citizens, better wives and better moth
ers, better housekeepers. We rock
the cradle with a firmer hand, We
guide the baby steps into straighter
paths, we give the world more Fran
ces Willards, more Noodles, more
Vincents. 1t enables us to see with
clearer eyes the glory of the final
tribunal of God through which we
may enter into eternity where the
laurel wreath shall be the crown of
life. The great seal. the spotless robe
of immortality. And when we gather
great circle around the throne of the
almighty king, how the vast arches of
heaven shall ring with "Glory be to
the Father and to the son."